Steam-engine valve-reversing gear.



H, R. STAFFORD & R. RBNNIR; STEAM ENGINE. VALVE REVERSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1913. f

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

4 SHBETSSEI1ET 1;

ll I:

I R. STAFFORD & RENNIE; STEAM ENGINE VALVE REVERSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30; 1913.

Patented Nov. 4. 1913. j

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0 Gem 0 O Q; fii

y/fliaza I H. R. STAFFORD & R. RENNIE.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE REVERSING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1913 1,8??362, Patented Nov. 4. 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 8.

II n

1 "E. R. STAFFORD & R. RBNNIE.

$TEAM ENGINE VALVE REVBRSING GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 30, 1913.

Patented N014, 1913.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

. r gafmrons UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFlCE,

112 a. entree; or rniiir'fii'fimy, NEW {ERSEY, AND ROBERT Immune, er SQ'IfENEdTEDY, fiEW YO'KK.

lofted?) mm-tfieiifi VELVE-KEVERSING GEAR;

retested Nov. 4, i913;

Appltdtiori filed June so, is'isl Serial 1%. 77,496.

' To rill whom it may concern;

.Be it known that we, HAL R Srmrromg of Plainfield, in the countyhpi' Union an State of New Jersey, and BERT RENNIE, of Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and Stat-eof New York, have jointly invented ai certain new and nseful Improvemerit, in Steam Engine Valve Reversing Gear, of which improvement the following is a; specification.

' The object of our invention is to provide a steam engii'rrev valve reversing gear, designed more particularly for application in locomotive'engines, which shall be of simple, compact, and inexpensive construction, and in the operation of which close! ad'ustinent and great steadiness of'the control ed valve 'ghr shall' be insugdaby thev reduction, to

the minimum degree racticable, of the re quired movement of the operating mechanism. The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying-drawings: Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation, of a locomotive engine, illustrating the application of our invention in connection with a Walschaert valve gear; F ig. 2, a plan or top View of the I reversing cylinder and its accessories; Fig.

3, a side view, in elevation, of the same; Fig.,3 e similar view, on an enlarged scale, of the link-connecting the valve and valve seat rocker arms; Fig. l, a vertical longitudinal central section through the reversing cylinder; Fig. 5,- an end view, in elevatlon of the same; Fig. 6, a transverse section, on the line a a of Fig. 4; Fig.- 7 ,.a similair section, on-the line 71 b of Fig. 3', Fig.-

'8.- a side view, in elevation, of the main ally actuated controlling gird locking mechan sm; Fig; 9, a plan 6%t0pfvievv, of the same; Figs, 10, 11; and 12, vertical traIiS- I {verse sections, on a larger ,ggale,-,through the *same, on the lines 0 c', cl-a and e e, respec- 45} section thl0l1?h tively of Fig. 8 and Fig. 13, a longitudinal the casing of thautom-atic three" way" vs ve.

3 Referring. to the drawings, our invention,

which is applicable in connect-ion with my oithevarious known types of distribution 1 valve mechanism, is illustrated 'inFig: 1, es for the central of a Walsehasert valve, gear of the rdirzary construct-lei, which cemp'risesla link. 1, eccentric rod, 1, combination lever, 1, and radius bar,- 1,

and is coupled to a distribution valve stem, 1. The radius bar is coupled to the. lower arm, 2", of a reverse shaft, 2, and is raised and lowered throughout its range of trev-- er'se on the link,- I, by our improved frevei'sing mechanism, hereinafter described,- which is coupled to the upper arm, 2*, of the reverse' shaft.

In the practice of ourinventi'on, We pi-ovides. fluid pressure reversing cylinder, 3, which is located as nearly as practicable to the valve gear Which is to be control-led,- and therefore at a substantial distance from the cab of the locomotive,- in which a bend rc. verse lever, 4,- is suitably mounted. The cyL indr, 3, is fitted with a properly peeked piston,- 5, fixed on a piston rod, 5 which passes through stuifing boxes, 8"; in the heads, 3, of the cylinder. A cross head, 6,

which is fitted to slide a fixed guide, 7,

is'secu'red to the forward end of the pistdn re said cross head carrying a pm, 6, which. is coupled by a reach rod, 8 to the upper string-s2 of the reverse shaft. The rear end of the piston rod is connected, by areach rod, 8, to a member of the manually operable actuating and locking mechanism, as hereinafter to be described.

A valve chest, 9, is secured to the lower side of the reversing cylinder, 3, said chest cemmmiicatifig through a supply pipe,- .10, with a; reservoir of compressed air or other source ofefiuidpressure supply, aiidvbeing fitted with a drain pipe, 1-0, controlled by a suitable valve. Induction, ports,- 3",; 3, leadfrom opposite ends of the reversing cylinder tea valve face, 3?, and an intermediate exhaust port, 3 lezids from sstid valve face to the atmosphere. The :tdnfiission and exhaust of motive fluid to and fromtliereversing cylinder are effected and controlled by an eetuatingvalve, '11, which is supported on guides, 9*, in thevalve chest, and is reciprocatd thereoii by the Hand lever, V4:; in' the cab, to which is connected thr'ough a rocker shatt, 12, which is jourin. the valve" chest, and carriest'wo arms, .12, 12*, :lhe, u, 'p'er end oft-he arm, 12., which is leated gthinthe valve sheet,

engages, a .slet iii; the' valve,= 11, and is fer-fined was curved to permit its iree meitenieiitsygand the arm;- 12], which lcfitad-eiltside'sthe'valve chest, is.

com ed by aired- 122 to hand lever;., 4. i in" iitiorii-ports, ll, 11, zi'hd an exhaust vol-sing cylinder, through the intermediation of the actuating valve, and an arm, ll, lo-

7 The link is also provided with a turnbuckle, 17 for the purpose of equalizing the speed l the side of the valve seat which abuts! yinder exhuust port, 3 The flouting valve 'uism and the cooperating locking mechacavity,.11 are formed in the actuating valve, 11. g

A floating valve seat, 13, is interposed be tween the actuating valve, 11, and the cyli indcr valve face, 3, said floating valve seat having ports, 13", 13 and 13, extending i through it, said ports being elongated on against the cylinder valve face, 3", so that, in all positions into, which the floating valve seat may be moved, each of the ports, 15". will be in communication with one of the cylinder induction ports, 3', and the port, 13, will be incommunication'with the cylseat is reciprocated on the valve face, 32 1) the movements of the piston, 5, of the reof a rocker shaft, 1 1, jourualed in the valve chest, and having an arm, I l, extending upwardly therein and engaging the floating valve seat, similarly to the rocker arm, 12,

Gated exterior to the chest. The rocker shaft is swung in its hearings by the cross head, 6, of the reversing cylinder piston rod, 5. the pin, 6, of which cross head carries a roller, 6, fitting a longitudinally curved slot, 15", in an arm of a cam lever, 15, which is pivoted, by a pin, 15", to the fixed guide, 7, and is provided with adownwardly pro-' jecting arm which is coupled, by a rod, 16, to the arm, 14", of the rocker shaft, 14. By means of the cam lever, 15, and its connections, it will be seen that the traverse of the rocker shaft 14, and consequently that of the floating valve seat, 13, is materially re duced, relatively to that of the piston of the reversing cylinder. The outside rocker arms, 12*, of the actuating valve, and, 11 of the floating valve sea t, are coupled by a link, 17, so as to limit the movement of the valve relatively to that of the valve seat, a longitudinal slot, 17, the length of which is determined by experiment, being formed in the link, for the passage of the pin by which'it is coupled to the rocker arm, 14".

in both directions, in the event 01' the engine valve gear moving more rapidly in one direction ,then in the other, as is ordinarily the case. I

p The manually operable reversing mechanism will now be described. A guide box, 18, is supported in any convenient position in the cab of the locomotive, and a toothed segment, 19, is formed upon or secured to the rear end of the guide box The hand reverse lever, 4, before n1entioned,-is fixed on a pin, 4", 'ournaled in the base ofthe segment, in position for the lever to" be; swung throughout the length of the lattei',

to, by a pin. 23.

and the lili 1, carries an arm. 4-. which is coupled by a rod, 232.110 the rocker shaft of the actuating valve. A hitch handle, 20, pivoted to the hand lever. 1, is coupled, by a link, 20, ton latch, 20", having teeth adapted to engage the teeth of the segment, 19, and is also coupled by a, link, 20, which I is longitudinally slotted at its lower end, to

the rear arm of adouble armed nihin latching, lever, 21, which is pivoted, by a in, 21, to the guide box, 18, and has up ura-lity of teeth formed on the upper side of its for ward arm. The connections of .the latch handle to the main latching lever and to the latch of the segment, are such that the disengagement of the former from the rack bar presently described, is effected before that of the segment latch from the teeth of the segment.

The rear end of the piston rod, 5, ofthe I reversing cylinder is connected, either rigidly or pivotally as preferred, by the reach rod, 8, to a rack bar, 22, supported on a pinion, 27, in the guide box, 18, within which it is adapted to traverse longitudi' nally, being heldngainst' vertical movement by av cap plate, 18. The teeth of the rack bar are cdapted to engage those of the main latching lever, 21, which is pressed upwardly, to effect such engagement, by a spring,.21", bearing on the guide box and on the lower side of the forward arm of the latching lever, 21.

A locking cylinder, 23, is formed on or secured to the cap plate, 18, of the guide box, and is fitted with a piston, 2Q having downwardly projecting arms, 23", which extend on opposite sides of the main latchiiig lever, and are pivotally connected there'- The space within the locking cylinder, ubovc the piston thereof, is connected, by it pipe, 24:, with the casing, 25. of a three way valve mechanism, the details of which us shown in Fig. 13. are as follows. The ends of the valve casing, 25, are connected, by pipes, 25, 25", with the opposite ends of the reversing cylinder, 3,

' unda' ball valve, 26, fitted in the casing, be-

tween passages therein communicating with I said pipes, opens or closes communicatlom.

its the case may be, between one or the other of said pipes and the pipe 24, lending to the locking cylinder, which pipe opensinto the valve casing intermediate of the connec tions of thepipes, 25*,and 25", thereto;

The pinion, 27, the teeth of which engine the rack bar, 22, is fixed on a shaft, 27, 1

journaled to rotate freely in ,bearingsin the guide box, 18, and having a squaredjoutwardly projecting wrist, 27, for the attachment of a crank, crank wheel, wrench, or other means for the application of, manual power toeffectvthe actuation of the reversing gear, in the event of such application becoming necessary at any time in the opemtion of the locomotive.

seseese newness in the operation of a valve nevorsimg gearof th s construction substantially a above described, the gear being; as shown 1:11 the drawings, in middle ,sitions, if it is desired to move the distmlmtion valves of the locomotive into some position for lion ward movement, the hand lever,4, in the .oab is cilia-tolled and mo ed forward, end, through the rod, 12, moves the rocker shaft, 12, and actuating valve, 11,vin the same directions. As as the left hand port,

11*. of the actuating valve opens to the responding port, 13", of :tlw'flwfing valve seat, motive fluid is admitted, through said ports and the left hand cylinder port, 2%, to. the reversing vcylinder, 3, on the rear side of the. piston, 5,, moving said piston tot-he right, and through thereach rod. 8, elevating the radius bar, 1-", in the link, 11. As the piston moves forward, it. carries "with it, through the cross head, 6, cam, 15, linl;,-.16-, and'rocker shaft, 14, the floating valve seat, ii, the movement of the latter being in Y the same direction as the preceding move ment of the actuating valve. This movement of the float-ingvalve seat will out off the supply of motive fluid to the reversing cylinder and'arrest the movein nt 9f the [is ton and connected valve gear member, un-

less the movement of the actuating valve is continued by progressive movement of the hand lever in the cab.

The traverse of the actuating valve, in;

dependently of. floating valve seat, is

been locked in any desired position, the pis-.

ton continues to move; carrying with it the floating valve seat, until the left hand induction port is closed and the supply of motive fluid cut oil from cylinder.

- and hen l'lovement of the reversin ear in either direction beyond the slight amountallowed by the lap of the-valve, which is made as small as possible, is prevented, if there be a tendency on the part of the engine valve gear to pull the piston forward, by the 1m.- cc-vering of the forward port by the floating valve seat, as the piston moves forward, thereby admitting motive fluid to the for,- ward side of the to normal position. V

The aplication of the positive locking reversing features of our inveni tion, in connection with the power actuated before described;

piston,

piston and returning 'it' advantage in preventing the creeping or slight vibratory movement of the gear 'due to the necessary lap of the actuating valve, and enabling the valve to be locked in lapreversing insane pr per, s of .sn antio pod position, thereby eliminating all loss ofmotive fluid. The hand rever ing atta h inent enables the engine to be reve s when --.dead, or in the event of the loss oi the supply of motive fluid. If these features are notapplied, an ordinary hand lever, of the type of that shown, may be used;

In the operation of the locking mocha nism, assuming, as before, the parts to be in middle gear position, 'andit is desired to move the distr bution valves of-tb lo tive into a position for forward movement,

the latch handle, :20, is pressed inward by grasping it and the hand lever, 41, thereby fi st lifting the endio the main atching lever, 21, and disengaging its tee h irom those of the rack bar, and thereafter lifting tl' 1e latch, 2Q", end disengaging i teeth from those of the segment, 19, The hand lever is then moved forward, moving. with it the actuating valve, '11:, and thereby admit ing motive fluid-1 thw eve sin cylinder, 3, on the rear side oi the piston,

5, which moves said piston forwardly, as

The movement of the piston, by which the radios bar, 1, is, through-the reach rod, 8, and connected I verse shaft and arms, raised into forward gear with the link, 1, continues until the osition of the hand lever shows that it as effected the desired adjustment of the valve ear. When the latch l a ndle is released,

Elie latch, 20*, engages teeth of the segment, and thereby arrests further nove ment of the band lever and of the actuating valve.- Meanvvhile, upon the admission of motive flu d to the reversing cyllnder, it

passes, throngh the pipe, 25, to the valve casing 25, and thence passes, through the pipe, 24, to the locking cylinder. Access-of fluid to the forward end of the reversing cylinder, through the ipe, 25*, is prevented by the valve, 26, whicg automatically closes communication between said pipe and the valve casing, The main latching lever, 21, has been forced downwardly, carrying with it the piston, 23, of the looking: cyl- I inder, by the manipulation of the l gtnli 'liandle, 20, and is held in its downward position, in which it is disengaged from the rack bar, by the pressure on the until the motive fluid is released from the locking cylinder: by the return of'tlle floating valve seat to its central position. It will'tl ns be seen flint after the inove nent the actuating valve ha b en t pp d y t r e e of he Ch handle, 20, and the engagement of thelateli, ;f

20", with the segment, 11

.vei'sing cylinder will continue its move e piston ofll g 1 ment u ntil, by such'movement, the floating valve seat. has been caused to cut oil 'the teeth, and the valve will beautomatically lapped, preventing Waste of motive fluid.

We claim as our invention and desire-to secure byiLetters Patent: 1.111 a valve reversing mechan1sm,-th'e" combination of a fluid pressure motor,- an actuating valve governing the supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said m0- tor, a hand lever for manually operating said valve, a floating valve seat interposed between the actuating valve and thc'ports of the motor, and having ports continuously communicating With said latter ports and 'controlledby the actuating valve. means for imparting movement to said valve seat by the motor, .and connections coupling the actuating valve and the floating valve seat, with a limited degree of movement of the former-relatively to the latter.

2. In a valve reversing mechanism, the

combination of a fluid pressure motor, an actuating valve governing the supply and exhaust'of motive fluid to and from said motor, a hand lever for manually operating said valve, :1 floating valve seat interposed between the actuating valve and the ports of the motor, and having ports continuously communicating with said latter ports and controlled by the actuating valve, means for moving said valve seat by the motor with a reduced degree of relative traverse, and connections coupling the actuating valve and the floating valve seat, with a limited decree of movement of the former relatively to the latter. j

3. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid "pressure motor, an actuating valve governing the supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said motor. all-arid lever for manuallyoperating said valve, a floating valve seat interposedbetween the actuating valve and the ports of the motor, and having ports COIIlJlIlHOIlSlV" communicating with said latter ports, and controlled by the actuating valve, means for 1mpart1ng.movcment to said valve seat by .the motor, connections coupling the actuati112" valve and the floating valve seat, with a limited degree of movement of the former relatively to the latter. and means for adjustingsaid connections to vary the degree of relative movement.

4. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure motor, an

' actuating valve controlling the supply an exhaust of motive fluid to and from said mechanism in locked position, and manu- 11g";

actuating valve governing the supply and A: exhaust of motive fluid to and from said motor, a hand lever for manually operating: said valve, a floating valve seat interposed between the actuating valve and the port! of the motor and having ports continuously communicating with. said latter ports and controlled by the actuating valve, 9. pivoted cam lever having a slotted arm actuated by the motor, connections coupling said cam lever to the floating valve seat, and connections coupling the actuating valve and the floating valve seat, with a limited degree of movement of the former relatively to the latter-i 1 In' a valve reversing mechanism, the combination oi a fluid pressure rreversing: cylinder, a piston fitting thereinaa piston rod fixed to said piston, a cross head therer on, a valve chest connected to the reversing g. cylinder, a fluid pressqr'e supply pipe leading thereinto, an actuating valvefitted t0 'f reciprocate in said chest and govern the supply and exhaust portsof the reversing cyl' A inder, a floating valve seat interposed b0? 9 tween the actuating valve and the ports ofl i the motor and having ports continuously l communicating with said latter ports. and a controlled by the actuating valve, rocker shafts journa'led in the valve chestand hav- Q J ing arms therein coupled to the actuating valve and the floating valve seat, respectively, and arms outside the valve chest, reducing mechanism connections coupling the outer arm of the floating valve seat rocker m shaft and the cross head, a longitudinally. slottedlink, coupling said arm and the outer arm of the actuating valve rocker shaft, a I hand reverse lever, and a reach rod 0 cling said lever and the outer arm of the actuotg ing valve'rocker shaft. 6. In a valve reversing mechamsm, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing motor, connections coupling said motor to a valve reverse shaft, a manually operable otor, a locking mechanism connected said" motor, a spring normally holding said ally operable means for releasing the pressure of said spring.

,7. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing motp r, connections coupling said motor to ,1 a valve reverse shaft, an actuating valve controlling the supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said motor, a hand reverse lever 'for operating said actuating. I: valve, a locking mechanism connected to said motor, a sprin normally holding said mechanismin 100 ed position, manually operable means for releasing the Ipressure of said springand means, actuated pressure from the motor, or maintaining t e locking 15o ,1

sired position on said segment, a rack bar connected to and mov'ableby the motor, a main latchinglever adapted to engage said rack bar, a link connected to and movable by the latch handle of the hand reverse lever,

and coupled to the main latching lever, means for preventing the engagement of the main latching lever and rack bar during the movement of the motor, and means forcausing the engagement-of said lever and bar upon the cessation of 'the'movement of the motor.

9. In a valve reversing mechanism, the

combination of a fluid pressure reversing motor, connections coupling said motor to a valve reverse shaft, an actuating valve controlling the supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and from said motor, a hand reverse lever for operatingsaid actuating valve, a fixed segment, a latch handle and latch for holding the reverse lever in desiredposition on said segment, a rack bar connected to and movable by the motor, a

main latching lever adapted to engage said rack bar, a link connected to and movable by the latch handle of the hand I'QVQISGE lever, and coupled to the main latching lever, a locking cylinder, a piston fitting therein and coupled to said lever, said piston, when under pressure, holding the main latching lever out of engagement with the rack bar, an automatically operable three way valve controlling communication between the locking cylinder and opposite ends of the cylinder of the reversing motor,

and-a spring bearing on the main latching lever' in direction to efiect its engagement with the'rack bar upon the release of pressure from the locking cylinder.

.10. In a valve reversing mechanism, the combination of a fluid pressure reversing motor, connections coupling said motor to a valve reverse shaft, an actuating valve controlling the supply and exhaust of motive fluid to and fromsaid motor, a hand reverse lever-for operating said actuating valve, a fixed segment, latch handle and latch for holding the reverse lever in desired position on said segment, a rack bar connected to and movable by'the motor, a main latching lever adapted to engage said rack bar, a link connected to and movable by the latch handle ofthe handreverse lever, and coupled to the main latching lever, means for preventing the engagement of the main latching lever and rack bar during the movement ofthe motor, means for causing the engagement of said lever and bar upon the cessation at the movement of the motor, a'manually operable shaft journaled below the rack bar, and a pinion fixed on said shaft and engaging the.

rack bar.

.HAL R. STAFFORD.

ROBT. RENN IE. Vitnesses as to Hal R. Stafford:

J. SNOWDEN BELL, Ron {D A. WRIGHT. Witnesses as to Robert Rennie:

' WILLIAM SaMrLn,

O. C. Mrnns. 

